Garden Lounge Sets: The Hidden Costs Buried in the Fine Print
You’ve found the perfect garden lounge set. The photos look dreamy, the price feels fair, and the description promises “luxury outdoor living.” You hit add to cart — job done, right?
Not quite.
What most shoppers don’t realise is that the headline price is only half the story. Extra costs often comes later — hidden in the fine print of delivery, assembly, and warranty exclusions.
Free Delivery Garden Furniture: What's the Story?
When you see “Free Delivery,” it sounds great. But watch out for these factors:
Curbside delivery: Many retailers only drop the boxes at the end of your driveway. Lugging 12 bulky parcels through your garden? That’s your job.
Premium delivery upsell: Want it carried to your patio, unboxed, and the packaging removed? Suddenly “free” delivery costs £99–£199.
If you've got any concerns about carrying the boxes into your garden, be sure to thoroughly research the retailer's delivery policy. At MINT Outdoor, our standard free delivery policy includes delivery directly into your garden. Our team do the heavy lifting, so you don't have to.
- Lead time mystery: That “in stock” lounge set may take 4–6 weeks to arrive, because it’s shipping from overseas. This is why transparency is crucial. We list estimated delivery timeframes on each individual product page, so you're never in the dark about how long your furniture will take to arrive.
Assembly: The Part Nobody Mentions
Here’s another not-so-secret thing to remember: most garden sofa sets aren’t fully built.
Don't be caught out: When a garden sofa set or garden dining set is flat pack this means frames, cushions, connectors are usually all separate. Make sure you've set aside the time needed to assemble. To put it simply, don't plan your garden party for the same day as your garden furniture delivery!
Assembly services: Really don't fancy assembly? We get it. You just want to enjoy your furniture straight away. That's why we (and plenty of other garden furniture retailers) offer an assembly service. Our furniture delivery experts will assemble your furniture for you, so you don't have to lift a finger. This is available for an additional charge per item, so be sure to factor this into your budget if it's something you'd like (further details in our delivery policy).
An extra pair of hands: If you've ordered a bigger garden sofa set (we're talking 5 seaters upwards) it's recommended that you have two people assemble it. Particularly when it comes to lifting and rotating heavy pieces, it's important to have two people lifting to avoid injury or strain.
Returns risk: If you assemble it your furniture and then change your mind, in most cases you'll need to disassemble it ready for collection. That's why it's important to pick a seat you're sure about - it's easier for you and the retailer.
Warranty Exclusions: The Small Print Nobody Reads
A warranty can be one of the biggest hidden costs of all. On the surface, you’ll see your furniture comes with a warranty. But the devil is in the details. Make sure there are not any exclusions to certain elements of your furniture (for example, the cushions).
Likewise, be careful with weather damage. Most warranties will cover things like rust, fading and mould- based on one key condition: you've adhered to the recommended care and storage guidelines. Put simply, if you've left your furniture (cushions and all) out in all weathers without any protective covers, don't expect the retailer to cover you when the inevitable occurs. That's why proper cleaning, care and maintenance is a time investment worth making.
So, How Do You Beat the Fine Print?
As someone who’s seen the inside of the furniture industry, here’s my advice:
✅ Ask about delivery terms: Will they carry it into your garden? Remove packaging? Assemble? Make sure you're clear on what's your responsibility and what's the retailer's.
✅ Read the warranty exclusions: Don’t just trust “5 years” — find out what’s actually covered.
✅ Check return policies: Can you send it back if it doesn’t fit your space? Who pays the courier?
✅ Follow maintenance guidelines: If you do need to claim on your warranty, make sure you've followed the recommend maintenance guidelines.
✅ Beware “too good to be true” deals: Bargain sets often have the highest hidden costs.
FAQs About Buying a Garden Furniture Set
Do all garden lounge sets require assembly?
Most do, yes. Premium sets may come pre-assembled, but they’ll cost more.
What's usually excluded from a warranty?
Obviously this varies from one company to another - that's why it's crucial to check the policy. As a general rule, things like failure to adhere to maintenance guidelines and using a domestic garden furniture set for commercial purposes would fall outside of your warranty.
Should I pay to have my furniture assembled?
It's totally up to you. Many people opt to purchase an optional assembly service due to factors such as time constraints or physical health- or maybe you'd just rather somebody else do it for you, there's nothing wrong with that!
Will it cost me if I need to return my garden furniture?
It depends. If it's faulty, it's highly unlikely a retailer will expect you to pay a collection fee. If however you change your mind, it's quite possible that a collection fee will be charged. That's why it's important to take your time choosing your furniture set. You can read the MINT Outdoor returns policy here.
The Bottom Line
The garden lounge set you buy isn’t just about the price you see online. It’s about the hidden extras buried in delivery, assembly, and warranty fine print.
If you don’t dig deeper, your “affordable” set could end up costing much more — and you’ll be left frustrated when your warranty doesn't cover you.
Do your homework, ask all of the questions and don't hit Add to Cart until you're 100% confident.
That’s the undercover truth.